Listed below are selected organizations that are currently engaged in organizing, hosting or identifying community service projects for groups visiting New Orleans, contributing to the city’s recovery.

Habitat For Humanity
Contact:
504-861-2077
www.habitat-nola.org/volunteer@habitat-nola.org

This group will be building homes for many months (years) to come. Most visible site if Musician’s Village in the upper 9th Ward, but they have sites all around the metropolitan area.

· Work day begins at 7:30 a.m., and Habitat provides instruction in the morning, then an entire day of work (or more) with a break for lunch. Work ends at 2:30p.m., with clean-up until 3:00 p.m.
· Lunch must be arranged for by the group. Habitat has catering companies they can recommend.
· Habitat can assist with ordering team t-shirts.
· Any communications-related issues must be coordinated with Habitat for Humanity.
· All equipment is on site.
· Transportation must be arranged for by the group.
· Groups must be comprised of 15 people and can be as large as hundreds.
· No building activity on Sunday or Monday.

Cost is approximately $50 per volunteer, to cover equipment and volunteer insurance.

Catholic Charities
Contact:
Shannon Murphy
Director of Volunteers
504-310-6962
smurphy@archdiocese-no.org
www.ccano.org

This multi-faceted organization serves a variety of organizations and needs, including response and recovery, housing, healthcare and education.

· Volunteer opportunities range from ½ day activities to 2 day opportunities, from assisting at Second Harvesters Food Bank to helping repaint and repair a person’s home damaged from Katrina.

Beacon of Hope
Contact: 
Heather Huth
Volunteer Coordinator
504-322-2514
volunteer@lakewoodbeacon.org 
www.lakewoodbeacon.org 

Founded in the Lakewood neighborhood, Beacon of Hope Resource Center is a grassroots organization taking pro-active measures to rebuild neighborhoods that are vital and essential to the recovery of the City of New Orleans. In just three years, Beacon of Hope has expanded to include the Lakeview, Gentilly, and Lower Ninth Ward communities. Millions of dollars have been spent by governmental organizations on studies and planning meetings. Meanwhile, Beacon of Hope, with boots on the ground, limited budget and an army of local and national volunteers, has been able to provide guidance, advocate for residents, and create a hospitable environment to encourage homeowners to return to this unique American city.

Beacon of Hope needs volunteers of all ages, willing to get a little dirty and assist homeowners with tasks such as landscaping, laying sod, painting, hanging drywall, gutting and other repairs and improvements. No skills required! Beacon of Hope provides all equipment, water, and snacks. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and lunch.

Beacon of Hope is flexible for volunteer project times and dates. Just call to schedule! Please call at least 4 weeks in advance. Volunteer groups of any size are welcome.

We ask for an administration fee donation of $10 per person, per day. For groups over 50 people, the rate is $15 per person, per day. For weekend days, we ask for $20 per person, per day.

Job benefits include immediate gratification of seeing the results of your work and knowing that you helped not only one homeowner, but the entire City of New Orleans in the long and difficult recovery process!

City Park, New Orleans
Contact:
Jim Morrison
(504) 483-9459
jmorrison@nocp.org or (email preferred)
http://neworleanscitypark.com/volunteer.html

City Park sustained $43 million dollars in damages from Hurricane Katrina, and staffing level has gone from 260 to just over 30. They just don't have the funds or the staff to do many of the things necessary to maintain the park (e.g., pick up trash and debris). Volunteers are essential for the recovery of the Park and for the Park to take its place in the cultural and recreational rebirth of New Orleans.

What you need to know:
· Groups of 20-50 are the easiest for them to manage, but they do welcome larger groups.
· They almost always have at least one staff person working with the volunteer group on their day of service.
· Given their financial situation, they ask convention and corporate groups to make a financial contribution to the park that will, at a minimum, cover the cost of supplies and materials used on their volunteer day. Supplies and materials can include paint, mulch, shovels, rakes, loppers, plant material, trash bags, etc. Contributions vary but they tend to average between $25 and $50 per person. Most companies send them a check and then they purchase supplies. They also have an inventory of in house supplies that can be used for some projects.
· They have found work days of between 4 and 6 hours to be optimum.
· Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately (no open-toed sandals!), wear a hat, and apply sunscreen and insect repellant.
· Volunteers are responsible for providing any beverages they wish to drink and food they wish to consume. Bring plenty of liquids year round, but particularly during the summer months.
· Some sections of the park do not have restroom facilities at present. Volunteer groups may need to rent port-a-lets (average cost is $100 per day per).
· They have many different projects at the park that will vary depending on the financial contribution, the number of people in your group, the day on which you
are coming, and the equipment available. Volunteers may paint, clear shorelines (we have 22 miles of shorelines), pick up trash and debris, plant, mulch, or string Christmas lights.

The work is rewarding: Groups come to the park and tackle an area that needs work. Four or six hours later, the area is much improved.

New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD)
Contact:
Larry Barabino
New Orleans City Hall
Tel: 504-382-3663
lbarabino@cityofno.com

The New Orleans Recreation Department is the official department for youth programs . A majority of their parks and playspots were damaged in the flood. They are in need of volunteers to help clean up and restore parks and playspots. They are also in needs of youth sports equipment, playground equipment, uniform, and sporting goods and supplies.

Hands On New Orleans
Contact:
Sam McKenzie
smckenzie@handsonnetwork.org
volunteer@handsonneworleans.org
www.handsonneworleans.org

Much like City Year, Hands on New Orleans can help identify a project, often for groups of all ages. All skill levels are needed. A non-profit Disaster Response project of Hands On Network, in partnership with the Points of Life Foundation. We are committed to the long term recovery and rebuilding of communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteer projects focus on rebuilding activities that are overwhelming in there need and providing services that would otherwise be unmet.

· Current projects include house gutting, mold remediation, rebuilding, animal shelter support and mentoring in schools, in addition to other community outreach projects. Hands On New Orleans understands the interdependence of the various elements of the city that have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

· Volunteer projects evolve in a "makes-sense" format as they engage in the renewal of those elements.
· Can provide housing to both short and long term volunteers.
· There is a fee per person charge to defray cost of equipment. ($150 per volunteer)
· Working in a number of neighborhoods of New Orleans.

Green Light New Orleans
Contact:
Andi Hoffmann
Executive Director
504-324-2429
andihoffmann@greenlightneworleans.org
www.greenlightneworleans.org

Green Light New Orleans is a non-profit environmental organization that is working to reduce resident’s energy bills by providing energy efficient compact florescent light bulbs and installing them for free. Volunteers assist in installing the bulbs.

City Year
Contact:
Chris Flood
504-344-5153
cflood@cityyear.org (email is the best way to make initial contact)
www.cityyear.org/sites/louisiana/

City Year is a group of young people dedicating a year of life to service, in New Orleans as it relates to recovery. They can help to identify opportunities for service and coordinate the activity at various locations around the city including schools, other organizations with needs. They do charge a fee per head to cover cost of equipment, and other needs including transportation, catering, etc. For the academic year 2007-2008, City Year plans on focusing on the needs of the Recovery Schools District primarily.

Preservation Resource Center’s Rebuilding Together New Orleans
Contact:
Alyssa Provencio
504-636-3076
aprovencio@prcno.org

Rebuilding Together New Orleans is a program of the Preservation Resource Center and have been revitalizing homes and in New Orleans communities for 20 years. Their primary focus is rebuilding the homes of low-income elderly and disabled homeowners in Orleans Parish, targeting 7 neighborhoods: St. Roch, Broadmoor, Holy Cross, Treme, Holly Grove, Mid-City, and Gentilly. Volunteers perform repairs including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, plastering, painting, landscaping, installing wheelchair ramps and trash removal. All house-selection, on-site supervision, supplies, tools, water, safety equipment and first aid kits are provided by Rebuilding Together New Orleans staff. Rebuilding Together prefers a full two-day commitment from its volunteers but are willing to work with your availability.

Bayou Rebirth
Contact:
Colleen Morgan
504-267-7500
coleen@bayourebirth.org

Bayou Rebirth is a new program that has the mission of matching volunteers to wetlands restoration projects in the Southeast Louisiana. Healthy wetlands once surrounded the greater New Orleans area and protected it from hurricane storm surge, but various human activities have led to their degradation and disappearance. The State of Louisiana and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, among others, are trying to address the rapid wetlands loss along the Louisiana coast through a number of programs, some of which call for planting wetlands plants in various locations. Bayou Rebirth seeks to build a volunteer base for these programs as well as help build capacity for restoring the National Wildlife Refuges near the city. In addition to instilling stewardship for our environmental resources, such plantings offer visitors from around the country an opportunity to see the beautiful ecosystem that is the Mississippi River delta.

Bayou Rebirth offers a full day of volunteer work, or a half day, depending on the group’s interest. For planting projects, groups of 50 volunteers or less is optimal. There is a coordination fee charged for planning and services.

St. Bernard Project
Contact:
St. Bernard Project’s Volunteer Department
(504) 277-6831
volunteer@stbernardproject.org

The St. Bernard project is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that began rebuilding homes in August 2006 in St. Bernard Parish. The mission of the St. Bernard Project is to remove barriers for families who wish to move back into their homes in St. Bernard Parish. Mainly, they are a rebuilding organization using volunteer labor and donations for building supplies to rebuild homes. On average, it takes us 8-12 weeks and $12,000 worth of building supplies to completely rebuild a house that has been gutted to the studs. While their clients face significant barriers, the problems these families face are easily solved by St. Bernard Project. The project raises funds for donated materials and recruit volunteers. Rebuilding work includes: exterior and roofing work, framing repair, rough and finish electric, plumbing, insulation and drywall, interior texturing and painting, flooring and cabinets, interior doors, baseboards and trim work.

There's No Place Like Home National™, a program of Jeanie C. Linders Fund
Contact:
(407) 478-1700
contact@jclfund.org 
www.theresnoplacelikehomenational.org

This organization is building 12 homes in New Orleans, the first home to be completed in October 2008. Volunteers can be doing anything from painting, cleaning up, landscaping, etc., in whatever time allottment they can offer. Groups of 10 work best, 40 at a time per job.

Katrinacorps
Contact:
Ray Thomas
313-477-2879
info@katrinacorps.org
www.katrinacorps.org

This grass-roots organization works with multiple groups and hosts a variety of different project opportunities. Service projects cover various locations around New Orleans, including RSD schools, rebuilding, house gutting, mold remediation, land preservation, mentoring and other community outreach projects. Katrina Corps provides lunches, transportation, tools and beverages. We charge a fee per head to cover cost of equipment, lunches and transportation (if needed). Contributions vary, but they average $10 to $20. Though all time helping is appreciated, 4 to 6 hour per days works best. Volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately i.e. no open-toed sandals, wear a hat or head covering.

Safety equipment is provided. To schedule a volunteer day or get more information,

Donation opportunities:
Please keep in mind that most of the organizations listed in this document accept much needed financial donations to help them continue with their respective missions. Other organizations welcoming financial support include:

Operation Kids/Brees Dream Foundation initiative, led by Saints QuarterbackDrew Brees and his wife, Brittany
Project seeks to improve/enhance the lives of children in New Orleans, including the building of athletic field at Lusher High School, supporting Best Buddies, building a Beacon of Hope Resource Center, supporting and helping to restore New Orleans Recreation Department Playgrounds, building the Edible Schoolyard at Green Charter School, and other designated projects.

Tippitina’s Foundation Instruments-a-Comin’
Dedicated to providing New Orleans public schools and professional musicians with instruments for performances, school bands and instruction. Also rebuilding Fats Domino’s house among other projects.

Toll-Free: 866-372-0512
Fax: 504-309-7928

New Orleans Public Library: Friends of New Orleans Public Library
As New Orleans Public Library rebuilds, the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library are on the scene to lend a hand. In the past, the Friends have lent their support by sponsoring programs and purchasing equipment for the library. However, financial support is now the Library's greatest need. NOPL will receive monies from traditional disaster relief sources, but these funds will not begin to cover all their building costs.

If you have questions or need more information, please call (504) 596-2587 or e-mail at fnopl@gno.lib.la.us

Make It Right Foundation
The mission of the Make It Right organization is to act as a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower Ninth Ward by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly so that residents can return to their new homes built on their own property as soon as possible. The foundation is making its homes affordable by providing “gap” financing to cover the difference between the home price and funds available to the property owner from various sources. The ability to provide gap financing and to meet affordability goals is wholly contingent upon the level of charitable contributions made to the Make It Right Foundation.

www.makeitrightnola.org
504-208-9265